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In California, less than 3% of the grapes come from vineyards above 1,000 feet in elevation. While these coveted sites are small in number due to the challenges that come with farming mountain vineyards, they are the source for many of America’s most famous wines. In 2020, Acumen cemented its commitment to building one of the New World’s great mountain wine estates when it appointed legendary Winemaker Phillip Titus to oversee its winemaking program. As the winemaker for Pritchard Hill’s iconic Chappellet Vineyard for the past 30 years, Phillip has earned renown as a master at crafting mountain wines. Today, building on the foundation established by winemakers Denis Malbec, Phillip is writing an exciting new chapter in the Acumen story, crafting wines that embody the grandeur and sophistication of Atlas Peak.
Raised in the Napa Valley, Phillip discovered his interest in viticulture when he began working alongside his father and brothers in his family’s St. Helena vineyard at the age of 12—an interest that was further kindled around the dinner table, where his father would often pour wines from Europe and California. After studying agronomy, viticulture, and enology at UC Davis, Phillip traveled to the vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux to gain a deeper understanding of the history of wine. In 1990, after working at such wineries as Quail Ridge, Stratford, and Cartlidge & Brown, Phillip was invited by legendary vintner, Donn Chappellet to guide the winemaking program at Chappellet Vineyards. That same year, Phillip also became the winemaker for his family’s acclaimed Titus Vineyards.
In the three decades since, Phillip has earned renown as one of Napa Valley’s most gifted winemakers, garnering numerous 100-point scores, and the respect of his peers for his encyclopedic knowledge of winemaking. Though Phillip is equally adept at making wines from both mountain and valley floor sites, his 30 years (and counting) of experience on Pritchard Hill have provided him with an unparalleled understanding of the intricacies and opportunities of mountain winemaking.
In early 2020, after years of working with grapes from Acumen’s acclaimed Edcora and Attelas vineyards, Phillip was invited to join the Acumen team as winemaker. “As a winemaker, and a wine lover, my fascination with Atlas Peak has only grown over the years,” says Phillip. “Those of us who know the mountain vineyards of Napa Valley intimately, know what an extraordinary terroir it offers for growing Bordeaux-varietals. What Acumen has already achieved on Atlas Peak is remarkable. I am excited to work alongside the Acumen team to establish new benchmarks for the wines of Atlas Peak.”
Doug Hill is keen on saying, “Of course, I’m an optimist. I’m a farmer.” Growing up on a family farm in Healdsburg instilled in Doug a hearty work ethic and positive spirit.
After earning a degree in Plant Sciences at Cal State Fresno and traveling extensively in Latin America, Doug set his sights on the wine industry and worked for Sonoma Cutrer and the Jaeger Family before starting Oak Knoll Farming and developing vineyards for himself and his family wine brands Hill Family Estate.
Doug’s long tenure in Napa has familiarized him with the Valley’s microclimates and soils, enabling him to pioneer new varieties and growing regions; Doug planted the first vineyards in American Canyon and Foss Valley, and brought the first Albariño to Napa Valley.
Over the course of Doug’s career, many notable members of the Napa wine community have worked with or for Doug Hill. He considers his cultivation of the next generation of vineyard managers among his greatest accomplishments.
In the larger community, Doug was a founding board member of Napa Community Bank. He is a past president of the Napa Valley Vineyard Technical Group. He also has participated on the Industry Advisory Board to the Foundation Plant Services at the University of California, Davis, and as a board member of the Napa County Farm Bureau.
Charles McKahn’s journey into winemaking began at the age of seventeen, working in the cellars of McManis Family Vineyards in his hometown of Ripon, California. This early exposure sparked a lifelong passion for the craft, leading him to pursue a formal education in Enology – the science of winemaking – at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
After graduating in 2011, Charles relocated to Napa Valley to join the esteemed Chappellet Winery on Pritchard Hill. His dedication and aptitude quickly earned him the role of Enologist, followed by a promotion to Assistant Winemaker. Over five years at Chappellet, Charles honed his skills under the mentorship of Phillip Titus, gaining invaluable experience in winemaking, viticulture, and the art of blending. He then took on the position of Winemaker at William Harrison Winery in Rutherford, Napa Valley from 2016-2022.
Today, Charles serves as a full-time Winemaking Consultant for several boutique wine brands, including his family-owned McKahn Wines. Over the past 14 years, he has cultivated a wide-ranging understanding of diverse terroirs and appellations, including Pritchard Hill, Atlas Peak, Rutherford, St. Helena, Carneros, Russian River, and Sonoma Valley.
In 2022, Charles joined the Acumen team as Associate Winemaker, collaborating once again with Phillip Titus to craft exceptional wines from the Atlas Peak region.